Conservation Panel Gets More Clout

Will Have Increased Role In Planning, Land Acquisition

PLAINVILLE — The conservation commission has new tools to protect the environment and curb unnecessary development.

On Monday, the town council approved amendments to the commission's ordinance, first established in the 1960s, and an account for buying open space.

``Basically what we're trying to do is be more proactive instead of reactive, because a lot of applications come in and we don't see them until the night of the meeting,'' said conservation commission Chairman David Niedzwiecki. ``We have no way of giving our input.''

The modified ordinance will include the conservation commission in the application process for development and building proposals.

``It allows us to say, `Maybe this should be taken into consideration,''' Niedzwiecki said.

He said members of the conservation commission could offer valuable input on proposed developments to other town agencies such as the planning and zoning and the inland wetlands commissions. The conservation commission can only make suggestions.

Towns should have a vested interest in limiting development, especially housing, because it could drain town dollars, Niedzwiecki said.

Subdivisions boost the number of residents, increasing the demand for schools, parks, police and other town services.

As of 2001 Plainville had approximately 1,968 acres of open space, according to records from the Plainville Conservation Open Space Subcommittee.

Niedzwiecki said he is updating the figures.

The council also approved a land acquisition fund, an account that will be used exclusively for buying open space. Money in this account will not roll over to the town's general fund at the end of every fiscal year.

``We have open space money, but the problem is the way most town budgets are -- if they don't get used up in one year, they revert to the general fund,'' said commission co-secretary Lisa Lozier.

This was a problem for people who were interested in giving money for open space, she said. They were afraid their donations would end up paying the town's bills, she said.